Manifolding device



Jan. 2, 1934. J. s. FLEMING 1,941,888

MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A TTOkNEYS.

' Jan; 2, 1 934. m J. 5. FLEMING 1,941,888

MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed April 10, ,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI; 2o Z ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 PATENT OFFICE MANIFOLDING DEVICE John Stuart Fleming, Niagara Falls, N. Y., as-

signor to Niagara Fold, Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 10, 1929. Serial No. 353,918

18 Claims.

This invention relates to devices facilitating the making of records in manifold and. in succession by means of interposed separate carbons and, with respect to its more specific features, to devices of the character described in which the material on which the records are made is supplied in long continuous strips of paper.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a practical device for facilitating the operation of making successive records and for minimizing the time and trouble consumed in disposing carbons in manifolding relation for successive records.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and practical construction for controlling the record strips and the carbons in the operation of making successive manifold records.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be 2 indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a form of record support which may be used in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view diagrammatically illustrating the record strips and carbons in one operative position on the support;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a section of zigzag folded record strips of which the supply pack is composed;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the supply pack with the carbons in one position thereon;

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but illustrating the carbon in a different manifolding position from Fig. 4, and before the completion of drawing the next set of record strips into position for receiving inscription;

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 5, but illustrating the record strips further advanced so as to bring the next set to be inscribed in cooperative manifolding relation to the carbon; and

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic perspective of the carbon as associated with the record strips.

Referring now more speciflcially to the drawings, a plurality of long record strips 1, 2, 3 are 55 superposed upon each other and are then folded zigzag on transverse lines 4 to form a supply pack as illustrated generally in several figures of the drawings. Each strip is weakened at the fold lines 4 in order that it may readily fold and be torn on straight lines. The assemblage of strips 1, 2, 3 provides a multi-ply web which is zigzag folded to form the supply pack. 1

Between the fold lines each record strip preferably has a printed form 40, and the printed forms on different strips are similar, so that the multiply web provides a succession of sets of two or more superposed printed forms which are adapted to register in superposed relation with each other. By interposing or interleaving carbons with the leaves of a set of printed forms, original inscription made upon the uppermost printed form will be duplicated in the same position on the underlying printed forms. The numerals 5 indicate apertures for each printed form on each strip, and these apertures may be utilized for filing the forms on pins after the forms have been torn from the multi-ply web.

In practice, a support is provided whereon the supply pack rests while being inscribed, and while the strips thereof are manipulated as hereinafter explained. In the present embodiment, this support includes two shallow receptacles 6 and '1 at different longitudinal positions relative to the multi-ply web, and lengthwise of the support. These receptacles may be formed by flat, sheet-metal bottom plates 8 and 9 having upturned peripheral flanges 10 and 11 on three sides, the adjacent ends of the two receptacles being open at the end and connected by a flat link or plate 12 hinged to the bottom plates 8 and 9, as at 13 and 14. Also, at respectively opposite ends of the support, lids l5 and 16 are hinged as at 1'1 and 18, so as to open and close, and in closed position the lids rest upon the upper edges of the sides 10 and 11 so as to be supported by the latter, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

At 19 are illustrated one or more carbons, or transfer sheets, two being shown, which are reciprocally shiftable both lengthwise of and up ,and down relative to the multi-ply web and to the support. The number of carbon sheets will depend upon the number of copies desired at one inscription. The carbon sheets are adapted to be interleaved with the record strips, as for instance illustrated in Fig. '7, wherein two carbon sheets 19 are interleaved with the three record strips 1, 2 and 3. While the carbon sheetsare reciprocally shiftable, the extent of lengthwise shift beyond a desired amount is controlled, to the end that in operating the device, the different positions to be occupied by the carbon sheets may be attained and determined in a more or less accurate manner. In the present embodiment, the extent of lengthwise shift of the carbon sheets is limited, as by being anchored against being shifted beyond the desired or necessary amount. It is to be understood that any practical construction capable of cooperating to permit the desired shift of the carbon sheets and control the amount of such shift may be employed without departing from the purview of this invention. In the embodiment illustrated, a earbon-sheet-anchoring de vice is employed and includes an anchoring member 20 which is connected to the carbon sheet and to the support and permits shift of the carbon sheet while operatively maintaining the connection between it and thesupport. As specifically constructed in this embodiment, the anchoring member 20 is a light, flexible cord, or cable, so related as to permit shift of the carbon sheet up and down and to control the extent of such shift longitudinally of the support and of the multiply web. The cable 20 may be attached to the carbon sheet in any practical manner. As illustrated, a relatively stiff plate or carbon holder 21, of cardboard, extends transversely of the carbon sheet or sheets 19 at one end of the latter, the carbon sheet or sheets being attached to the plate 21, and the flexible cord 29 being looped through small apertures 22 in this plate. In this way the carbon sheets are reinforced against strain due to any pull on the cable 20. For attaching the cable to the support, it may pass loosely through apertures 23 and 24 in the sides 10, its opposite ends being connected to the opposite ends of the relatively stiff plate 21.

Along a side margin of the carbon sheet, a carbon sheet stiffener means 25 may be utilized. The stiffener means 25 comprises a narrow length of cardboard integral with plate 21 and exten about halfway of the length of the carbon sheet so as to stiffen the same against transverse bending and thus facilitate manipulation of the carbon sheet in the operation of the device. The plate 21 and the member 25 may be stitched to the carbons by a line of stitches 30, outside the edges of the record strips, these stitches extending the length of the carbons to hold the latter together.

To prepare the device for making manifold records, the supply pack may be disposed on the top of the cover 16, when the latter is closed, so as to form a firm support for the pack. The advance set of superposed forms a will then be interleaved with the carbon sheets as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this position it will be observed that the undermost record strip 3 of set a, lies beneath the lowermost carbon, so as to permit the zigzag folded lowermost strip 3 to unfold and lie in front of the supply pack without substantial interference from the carbon sheets. In this first position, the reinforcing plate 21 will be disposed at the rear end of set a of printed forms with the carbons lying in advance position relative to said plate. Inscription may now be made on the uppermost leaf of set a, and will be copied on the underlying leaves of that set. Also, 'it will be noted that at this time no copy will be made upon the next succeeding set b, as the leaf of strip 3 will be between the lowermost carbon and the top leaf of set b. V Having made the inscription on set a, the advance ends of the record strips 1 and 2 are grasped by the fingers of the operator and the inscribed set a forwardly shifted to position above the closed cover 15 and in front of the carbons may also be grasped, sary in the present embodiment as there will be sufficient friction between the carbons and the record strips to shift the carbons with the record supply pack on cover 16. In this operation the but this is not nece'sleaves into position in front of the pack, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The forward shift of the inscribed set a, just mentioned, will cause partial unfolding of the next set b of record leaves. as illustrated in Fig. 5, when the carbons have shifted to the forward position just explained, and further shift of carbons in the same direction will be restricted by the cable 20 and they will stop. Continued forward pull on set of record leaves :1, however, will draw these leaves beyond the carbons, and also will complete the unfolding of set I), so that the set b will be interleaved with the carbons in the forward shifted position of the latter, ready for another manifolding inscription. Usually at this time the advance inscribed set a, will be torn off along the weakened line. Set b having been inscribed in its position above the cover 15 and in front of the supply pack, it is then shifted forwardly out of manifolding relation to thecarbons,the anchoringdevice restraining the carbons from being shifted forwardly at this time. Set b may then be torn off. Thereupon, set 0, which will have taken the place of set b in manifolding relation to the carbons, may

be rearwardly shifted together with the carbons and into position on top of the supply pack. the anchoring device restricting the amount of this rearward shift. In this last position, set 0 may be inscribed, and the sequence of operations hereinbefore explained proceeded with, ad lib.

As before stated, the number of carbon sheets employed will depend upon the number of copies desired. In the illustrated embodiment, anoriginal and two copies are sought, and hence three record strips and two carbon sheets are utilized.

The two carbon sheets shift as one and are carried, by the holder 21.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the partially unfolded record leaf 31 of set b, which is to be the undermost copy leaf when that set is inscribed, slides beneath the lowermost carbon sheet and the holder 21, whereas the two upper leaves of set b slide on the upper faces of the carbon sheets respectively, the top record strip 1 passing between plate 21 and the uppermost carbon, so as to be guided by plate 21. The result is that as the successive sets are inscribed, the carbon copies on the lower strip 3 arrange themselves as parts of a single, zigzag folded strip X in front of the supply pack, this zigzag folded strip being convenient of access for inspection, and readily separable from its connection to the supply pack when desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the transfer sheets 19 together with the holder or carrier 21 therefor are directly supported ,upon and carried by the work web or record strips. This provides the major or principal support for the transfer sheets, indeed in the embodiment shown, these transfer sheets are wholly supported in this manner. When the transfer sheets are adjusted to the left as shown in Fig. 4, they are supported upon the top strips of the supply pack; and when they are adjusted to the right as shown in Fig. 5, they are supported upon the top strips of the zigzag folded pack X. During the adjusting movements either forwardly or backwardly, the transfer sheets are still supported upon the work web. When the record strip support is positioned for making these adjustments of the desired amount, and a relatively stiff plate extransfer sheets, in other words, when the support is in operative position, the part of said support receiving the folded strip X is longitudinally adjacent to the part of the support carrying the supply pack so that these parts of the strip sup port are positioned substantially in the longitudinal pan of movement of the transfer sheets.

The flexible cord or cable 20 provides for lengthwise shifting of the carbons andof the record strips to and from their different'positions relative to the support, while permitting up and down shifting thereof to accommodate the diminishing height of the supply pack and the increasing height of the refolded strip at X. This is a very desirable and practical feature of the invention and it is to be understood that any device subservlng the up and down and longitudinal reciprocal shift of the carbons is within the purview of the invention. The cords 20 in effect are flexible or pliable anchoring links which are connected to the transfer strips 19 through the supports or carriers 21 or equivalent connecting means and also connected to the main record strip support. These flexible connecting links, as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, are connected to the record strip support at points intermediate the longitudinal extremities of the supporting plate 8 in such a manner that these anchoring links function to check movements of the transfer sheets in opposite directions.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could'be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompa ying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a support, a carbon sheet reciprocally shiftable along said support, and a carbon-sheet-anchoring pliable cor'd connected to said carbon sheet and to said support for controlling the extent of shift of said carbon sheet.

2. In combination, a support, record strips carried by said support, a carbon sheet interleaved with-said record strips and reciprocally shiftable along said support into different longitudinal transfer positions thereon, and a carbon-sheetanchoring member flexibly connecting said carbon sheet with said support for controlling the extent of shift of said carbon sheet.

3. In combination, a support, a carbon sheet reciprocally shiftable along said support, and a cable connected to said carbon sheet and to said support.

4. In combination, a multi-ply, zigzag folded web forming a supply pack composed of record strips in superposed relation to each other, a carbon sheet supported upon the record strips for longitudinal reciprocal shifting movement lengthwise of and relative to the web and interleaved with said record strips, a pliable anchoring cord connected to said carbon sheet for anchoring the latter against being shifted beyond a desired amount, and a carbon-sheet stiffener means along a side margin of the carbon sheet.

5. In combination, a multi-ply, zigzag folded web forming a supply pack composed of record,

strips in superposed relation to each other, a

5 carbon sheet reciprocally shiftable lengthwise of and relative to the web and interleaved with said record strips, a pliable anchoring link anchoring said carbon sheet against being shifted beyond a tending transversely of the carbon sheet and to which said carbon sheet is attached and said anchoring link comiected, said plate being free and unattached except for said carbon sheet and link.

6. In combination, a multi-ply, zigzag folded web forming a supply pack composed of record strips in superposed relation to each other, a carbon sheet reciprocally shiftable lengthwise of and relative to the web and whollymovably supported thereby and interleaved with. saidrecord strips, an anchoring link anchoring said carbon sheet against being shifted beyond a desired amount, a relatively stiff plate extending transversely of thecarbon sheet and to which said carbon sheet is attached and said anchoring link connected, and a carbon-sheet-stiffener means carried by the web and extending along }a side margin of said carbon sheet and at one side of said plate.

7. In combination, a support, a multi-ply, zigzag folded web on said support forming a supply pack composed of record strips in superposed relation to each other, a carbon sheet interleaved with the record strips and reciprocally shiftable relative to said support and lengthwise of said web, and a carbon-sheet-anchoring'cable connected to said support and to said carbon sheet.

8. In combination, a'support, a multi-ply, zigzag folded web on said support forming a supply pack composed of record strips in superposed relation to each other, a carbon sheet interleaved with the record strips and reciprocally shiftable relative to said support and lengthwise of said web, a carbon-sheet-anchoring cable connected to said support and to said carbon sheet, said support comprising two ireceptacles respectively at different positions lengthwise of the support, the adjacent ends of said receptacles being open, a link joining the adjacent ends of the different receptacles, and lids hinged to the receptacles, at opposite ends of the support, respectively.

9. In combination, a support, a zigzag folded supply pack of relatively superposed record strips carried by said support, said support having a part positioned longitudinally adjacent to said supply pack for carrying a refolded one of said record strips, and a transfer sheet carrier reciprocal longitudinally of said strips and cooperating therewith during its reciprocal movements to refold one of said record strips in zigzag formation upon said support adjacent to said supply pack.

10. In combination, a support, a zigzag folded supply pack of relatively superposed record strips carried by said support and a transfer sheet carrier reciprocal longitudinally of said strips over said supply pack and beyond one end thereof to a longitudinally adjacent support part positioned substantially in the longitudinal path of movement of said carrier, said carrier cooperating in its longitudinal movements with said strips so as to refold one strip in zigzag formation on said support adjacent to said supply pack.

11. In combination, a support, a zigzag folded supply pack of relatively superposed record strips carried by said support, a transfer sheet carrier reciprocal longitudinally of said strips over said supply pack and beyond one end thereof to a longitudinally adjacent part of said support and 4 cooperating with said strips so as to refold one strip inzigzag formation on said adjacent support part adjacent to said supply pack and a link to limit the reciprocal movement of said carrier.

iii-3 12. In combination, a support, a zigzag folded supply pack of relatively superposed record strips carried by'said support, a transfer sheet carrier reciprocal longitudinally of said strips and cooperating therewith to refold one of said record strips in zigzag formation upon said support and an anchoringcable for limiting the reciprocal movement of said carrier.

13. In combination, a multl-ply zigzag folded web forming a supply pack having record strips in superposed relation to each other, a carbon sheet interleaved with the record strips and reciprocally shiftable lengthwise of and relatively to the web and principally supported by said record strips, and an anchoring link connected to said carbon sheet to restrict the extent of shift thereof beyond a desired amount.

14. In combination,fa support, a i zag folded supply pack of relatively superposed record strips carried by said support, and a transfer sheet carrier supported upon said record strips for longitudinal reciprocal movement thereon over said supply pack and beyond one end thereof to a longitudinally adjacent part of said support so as to cooperate with said strips to refold one strip in zigzag formation upon said longitudi nally adJacent supp ing D 15. In combination, a support, a zigzag folded supply pack of relatively superposed record strips carried by said support, and a transfer sheet carrier carried by the record strips and reciprocal longitudinally thereof into contact with the top of said supply pack and beyond one end of the latter to an adjacent part of said support.

16. In combination, a multi-ply web including record strips superposed relatively to each other, a carbon sheet reciprocally shiftable lengthwise of and relatively to the web and interleaved withthe record strips, a support for said web, and a plurality of pliable limiting links for said carbon sheet, one of said links having attachment with said carbon sheet at one side of the longitudinal center line thereof and another said link having attachment with said carbon sheet at the other side of said center line, and said links bcing connected to said support so as to limit longitudinal reciprocation of said carbon sheet. a

17. In combination, a multi-ply web including record strips superposed relatively to each other, a carbon sheet reciprocally shiftable lengthwise of and relatively to the web and interleaved with the record strips, said carbon sheet being wholly supported by said web, a support for said web, and a flexible limiting link for said carbon sheet connected thereto and connected to said support so as to limit longitudinal reciprocation of said carbon sheet.

18. In combination, a support, a zigzag folded supply pack of relatively superposed record strips carried by said support, a transfer sheet reciprocally movable longitudinally of said strips over said supply pack and beyond one end thereof to an adjacent part of said support, and a pliable limiting cord connected to said transfer sheet and connected to said support intermediate the ends thereof so as to limit longitudinal movements of said transfer sheet in either direction. 

